Cleaning device



May 15, 1962 3,034,168

T. R. WALKER CLEANING DEVICE Filed April 20, 1959 1 24 INVENTOR.

' THOMAS R. WALKER FIG. 4

ATTORNEY aired diaree The present invention relates to brush devices and particularly to a new and improvedV brush device capable of retaining a substantial quantity of detergent after dipping it into a container of detergent or the like.

The use of industrial brushes for various cleaning purposes where detergents are employed to facilitate the cleaning action usually involves brushes with relatively soft bristles so that a substantial quantity of the detergent is retained in the brush after dipping it into detergent. The retained detergent tlows from the bristles onto the area being cleaned during a scrubbing operation.

It has been found that brushes having bristles of a softness to retain a substantial quantity of detergent are inadequate to satisfactorily clean many surfaces because a much harder bristle is required to dislodge certain accumulations thereon. However, when a brush possessing stili enough bristles to dislodge the accumulation is employed, it often fails to retain any substantial quantity of detergent when dipped into a container ot detergent. The cleaning of the inside of large milk containers in the dairy industry is only one example where a stiff bristle brush is required while the surface being cleaned is desirably flushed with detergent. In such milk containers, casein deposits occur throughout the extent of the surface in contact with the milk during normal use of the containers. The cleaning of such containers requires a relatively stiff bristle brush to dislodge the casein deposits while at the same time flooding of the surface with a detergent to properly clean the containers is highly desirable.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a device having a brush' with stiff enough bristles to perform a desired cleaning action and yet capable or retaining a substantial quantity of detergent when the device is dipped into a container of detergent.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the ow of detergent from the device may be controlled by the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device in which the amount of detergent retained is independent of the stiffness of the brush bristles.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device in which a detergent absorbing element is supported between two relatively movable elements, both of which may contain bristles, or only one of which may contain bristles.

Another object of the invention may be to .provide such a device wherein one of the movable elements may be mounted within a rigid member, and the other element may be mounted within a exible member.

In one aspect of the invention, a resilient body member of tlexible material such as rubber, ilexible plastic or the like may have embedded within it a somewhat triangularly shaped plate of metal or other rigid material and lying on one side only of a diameter of the resilient body member. The plate may have its one apex extend over a central opening in the resilient body, and a threaded hole may be provided therein for the reception of the threaded end of a handle.

In another aspect of the invention, parallel spaced, rigid pins may extend from the rigid plate outwardly from the surface of the resilient body member opposite that through which the handle extends. Other parallel daldd Patented May l5, 1962 spaced, rigid pins may be securely embedded within the resilient body member within the half opposite that containing the rigid plate. Accordingly, these last mentioned pins may be flexed `toward and from the pins mounted in the rigid plate.

I still another aspect of the invention, separate brush elements may be mounted on the two sets of pins providing a space therebetween within which a detergent absorbing element such as a sponge or the like may be retained by the flexure action of the two brush elements.

With the brush device immersed within a container of detergent, pressure may be applied to the brush element mounted on the pins solely supported by the exible body member, causing it to move toward the other brush element thereby compressing the sponge. Upon release of this pressure, the sponge will absorb a substantial quantity of detergent. Then during the scrubbing action, controlled pressure may be applied to the brush element mounted on the liexibly mounted pins to cause ooding of the surface being cleaned.

The above, other objects and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following specilication and accompanying drawing which is merely exemplary.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is a sectional view of a brush device to which the principles of the invention have been applied;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FlG. 1;

FIG. 3 is ay sectional View of the device shown in FIG.v l as it appears during operation; and

HG. 4 is a View of an element which may be substituted for one of the brush elements shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.

Referring to FIG. l, the principles of the invention are shown as applied to a brushing device comprising a body 10 which may be made of any one of a number of resilient materials such as rubber or the like. The resiliency of the material forming body 10 should be such as to provide a flexing action by the application of a force of only a few pounds.

Referring to FIGS. l and 2, a plate 11 of rigid material such as metal or the like may be embedded within the body 1t), either by a moulding process or by the vulcanizing or cementing of two parts 10' and 10 toether with the rigid plate 11 located within a recess 12 formed in the one face of the part 1d.

The plate 11 may be generally triangular in shape with its one apex 13 lying within a central opening 14 that extends through the body 10. A threaded hole 15 may be provided within the plate l@ for the reception of a threaded element 16 rigidly xed to one end of a handle I17.

The plate 1l may have a set of rigid pins 1,8 fixed to it and extending outwardly from the part 10 for a purpose to be describe-d later. Another set of rigid pins 19 may include heads 2d embedded in the body 10 within recesses 21 formed in the part 1d" of member 10. They also may extend outwardly from said part and may be parallel to each other and lie Within a plane parallel to, but spaced from the plane including pins 18. The spacing of the planes including pins 1S and 19 preferably should be different from the space between the pins 18 or the space between pins 19.

Brush elements 22 may be provided with bristle supporting means having a plain back surface 23. The bristles 24 Within the brush face may be animal bristles, plastic bristles or ybristles made from any suitable material capable of being formed into iiIamentS. Each brush element may be provided with spaced recesses 2li adapted to register with the pins 18 or 19ybut not i8 and 19. In this way the brush elements can be attached to the body 1d in only two parallel spaced planes.

,sorbing member 2.5 such as a sponge or the like.

Y brushes 22.

From the foregoing it is evident that the brush element 22 mounted'on the pins 18 is rigidly -xed to the plate 12, which latter is rigidly xed to the handle 17. And, the' brushelement 7.2 that is mounted on the pins 19 can be flexed toward and from the brush element 22 on pins 1-8 due to the resilience of the rubber body itl.

Within the space between the parallel spaced backs 23 of the brush elements 22 may belocated a detergent ab- The member 25 may ybe a natural sponge or any of the synthetic Sponges or any liquid absorbing material.

When it is desired to use the device, the device may be inserted .within a container of detergent or other liquid and pressure may be applied to the brush element Z2 mounted on pins 19, thereby compressing the sponge Z (FIG. 3). Release of the compressing force while the device is submerged causes the sponge 2S to pick up a substantial quantity of the liquid detergent independently of the quantity retained by the bristles 24. While applying the brush to a surface to be cleaned, controlled pressure may be applied to the brush 2.2 on pins 19, causing the detergent Within the sponge 2S to ood the surface being cleaned during a scrubbing action.

Referring to FIGJ4, a block 26 ot plastic or other Ysuitable material may be substituted` for one of the It may include a pair of spaced recesses 27 adapted to register with the pins 1S or 1i9 in the same way that the recesses .24 of brush elements 22 register with such pins. Accordingly, either one or two brushes may be employed, or one brush and the block may be employed, in both'ofV which instances the ultimate desired y results are achieved.

Although the various features of the new and improved brush device have been shownraud described in detail to fully disclose'two embodiments of the invention, it willV be evident that'changes may be made in such details andV certain features may be used without others without departing from the principles of the invention.

Y What is claimed is:

l. A cleaning device comprising inV combination, a base v member made from a resilient material; a rigid frame member embedded within said base member and located on one side only of a plane passing transversely through said base member; brush supporting pins fixed to said rigid member,` located within substantially a single plane aud extending outwardly from said base member; other pins arranged in a plane substantially parallel to but spaced from the plane including the pins in said rigid member, said other-pins being mounted directly within the resilient material of said base member and extending in the same direction fromV said base member that said brush supporting pins extend; brush means mounted on said pins; and sponge means having a dimension such that it can be clampingly held between'said brush means.

Y2. A cleaning device comprising in combination, a base member made from a resilient material; a rigid frame y member embedded Within said base member and located on one side-.only of a plane passing transversely through said base member; brush supporting pins fixed to said rigid member, located within substantially a single plane and extending outwardly from said base member; other pins arranged in a plane substantially parallel to but spaced from the plane including the pins in said rigid member, said other pins being mounted directly Within the resilient material of said base member and extending in the same direction from said base member that said brush supporting pins extend; brush means mounted on the pins in said rigid member; means mounted on said other pins, said means including a surface facing,

said brush means and substantially parallel with a corresponding face of said brush means; and'sponge means having a dimension such that it can be clampingly held between said brush means and the surface of said means on said other pins that faces saidV brush means. Y

3. A cleaning device comprising in combination, a base d member made from a resilient material and having a recess formed transversely and centrally thereof; a rigid frame member embedded Withinpsaid base member, lo-

i cated on one side only of a transverse plane passing through said base member along the longitudinal axis of said recess, said frame member having a portion extending into said recess; a threaded hole in said rigid member substantially coaxial with said recess; brush supporting pins xed to said rigid member, located substantially within a single plane and extending outwardly from said base; other pins arranged in a plane substantially parallel to but spaced from the plane including the pins in said rigid member, said other pins being mounted directly within the resilient material of said base member and extending in the same direction from said base Y member that said brush supporting pins extend; brush means mounted on the pins in said rigid member; means mounted on said other pins, said means including a surface facing said brush means and substantially parallel with a corresponding face of said brush means; sponge means having a dimension such that it can be clampingly held between said brush means and the surfaceof said means on said other pins that faces said brush means; and a handle threaded into the threaded hole in said rigid member'. Y Y

4. A cleaning device comprising in combination, a base member made from a resilient` material; a rigid frame member embedded within said base member and located on one side only of a plane passing transversely through said base member; brush supporting pins xed to said rigid member, located within substantially a single plane and extending outwardly from said base; other pins arranged in a plane substantially parallel to but spaced from the plane including the pins in said rigid member, said other pins being mountedwdirectly within the resilient material of said base member and extending in the same direction `from said base member that said brush supporting pins extend; and separate brush means mounted on said pins in backato-back relation and such as to provide a space between the backs of said brush means for clampingly receiving sponge means.

5. A cleaning device comprising in combination, a base member made from a resilient material; a rigid member embedded within said base member andlocated on one side only of a p-lanerpassing' transversely through said base member; brush supporting pins fixed to saidrrigid member, located within substantially a single plane and extending outwardly from said' base member; other pins arranged in a plane substantially parallel to but spaced from the plane including the pins in said rigid member, said other pins being mounted directly within the resilient material of said base member and extending in the same direction from said base member that said brush supporting pins extend; brush means mounted on the pinsrwithin the resilient material; a. block mounted on the pins in said rigid member; and sponge means clampingly held between said brush means and said block.

6. A cleaning device comprising in combination, a base member made from a resilient material; a rigid member embedded within said base member and located on one side only of a plane passingl transversely through said base member; brush supporting pins fixed to said rigid member, located within substantially a single plane and extending outwardly from said base member; other pins arranged in a plane substantially parallel to but spaced from the plane including the pins in said rigid member, said other pins-being mounted directly withinv the resilient material of said base member and extending in the same direction from said base member that said brush supporting pins extend, the spacing of the pins mounted in the rigid member and the pins mounted -in said resilient material being the same but ditlerent from the spacing of the planes including said pins; brush `means mounted on said pins;'and sponge means clampingly held between said brush means. I

7. A cleaning device comprising in combination, a base member made from a resilient material; a rigid member embedded Within said base member and' located on one side only of a plane passing transversely through said base member; brush supporting pins iXed to said rigid member, located Within substantially a single plane and extending outwardly from said base member; other pins arranged in a plane substantially parallel to but spaced from the plane including the pins in said rigid member, said other pins being mounted directly Within the resilient material of said base member and extending in the same direction from said base member that said brush supporting pins extend; brush means mounted on certain of said pins; va block mounted on certain other of said pins; and Sponge means olampingly held between said brush means and said block.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,673,638 Peterson June 12, 1928 2,482,928 Nen et al Sept. 27, 1949 2,516,491 Swastek July 25, 1950 2,641,787 Vosbkian et al. June 16, 1953 2,916,754 Zottola Dec. 15, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 700,962

France Jan. 5, 1931 

